Emirates axes chauffeur drive for tickets booked with Qantas Points
By David Flynn, February 6 2019
Emirates business class and first class bookings made using Qantas frequent flyer points will no longer include the airline's free chauffeur drive service.
Earlier this year the Gulf airline declared that tickets booked using Skywards Miles, along with miles-based upgrades from economy to business class, would be excluded from the chauffeur service as of March 1.
Emirates has now confirmed that this will also extend to bookings made with Qantas Points, although it says "Qantas will honour all existing Chauffeur Drive bookings with Emirates made on or before 1 March 2019 for travel on an Emirates operated flight up until 1 March 2020."
However, as earlier reported by Australian Business Traveller, Qantas will continue to offer chauffeur drive on Qantas flights to passengers who book into business class or first class travellers using Qantas Points.
Read more: Qantas says it won't scrap chauffeur service for points-based bookings
PREVIOUS | Emirates is withdrawing its chauffeur drive service on business class and first class tickets booked using Skywards frequent flyer miles.
From 1 March 2019, the popular chauffeured ride to and from the airport will no longer be available for 'classic rewards' flights made with Skywards Miles.
Miles-based upgrades from economy to business class will also lose the chauffeur drive option.
The airline has confirmed these changes in updates to the Terms & Conditions page for its chauffeur-drive service.
The changes also appear to extend to Emirates business class and first class flights booked using Qantas Points, as the airline also states "Chauffeur-drive service is not available on reward tickets booked via Emirates Skywards airline partners for travel on Emirates." Qantas is considered as one of many Emirates Skywards partners.
Qantas introduced a similar chauffeur-drive service for business and first class flyers as part of Qantas/Emirates alliance launched in April 2013, with both airlines using the same company – Brunel Worldwide Chauffeur Drive – as their contractor.
However, Qantas has advised Australian Business Traveller that it will continue to offer its chauffeur drive service for business class or first class travellers who book their trip with frequent flyer points.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2016
Total posts 5
I am hoping to book some Emirates reward tickets later this month. The article says that the service will stop from 1 March. Does anyone know what happens to tickets booked before then?
03 Nov 2014
Total posts 90
Disappointing. It seems at first glance to make sense from a financial perspective, but at the end of the day the airline has been paid for the tickets; either they were earned by loyal members flying heaps of flights or they were sold to financial institutions. It’s a bit cheap really...
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
16 Jun 2016
Total posts 16
Any bookings made and ticketed prior to 01March will still receive the CD service as originally offered.
03 Oct 2018
Total posts 3
Made a rewards booking this past Saturday and booked the chauffeur service straight after. Hopefully they honor it!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Our understanding is that points-based award bookings (and business class upgrades) made prior to March 1st will still qualify for the chauffeur service.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
14 Feb 2014
Total posts 33
just like the downgrades on sin and bkk routes this stinks of qf meddling. if you cannot keep up just get out of the way
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 8
Would this service also be unavailable to those who booked Emirates business using Qantas FF points?
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 269
Loyalty being rewarded once again.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jun 2015
Total posts 38
The blurb on their website specifically states Skyward Rewards, and its for chauffeur booking after 1/3/19. I’m hoping QFF awards aren’t currently included but if they are you can still book prior to 1/3/19 cuttoff??
29 Aug 2018
Total posts 15
And I was just about to book an F award flight to Europe for Dec 2019!
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
16 Jun 2016
Total posts 16
CT, as long as it's booked and ticketed prior to 01Mar19, you'll still get the CD service.
29 Aug 2018
Total posts 15
"Chauffeur-drive service is not available on reward tickets booked via Emirates Skywards airline partners for travel on Emirates."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Jul 2018
Total posts 3
If it is for all bookings after the 1/3/19 then previous bookings should be ok? I have a current FC rewards booking in March and my chauffeur pick up option on the Emirates app is still saying 'booked'
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 24
Have already book the chauffeur service for July 1st and 18th
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jan 2016
Total posts 4
We have a first class booking for my husband and a reward one for me on the same flight. Will they allow me to go in the vehicle with my husband or is that now a no no?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
I'm sure you'll be fine. It would be amazingly petty of them to try and stop it, and the car's driver isn't actually employed by EK, so he probably coudn't care less. In the past when my wife and I have travelled on the same flight on separate bookings, we've only booked one car and travelled in it together, even though we were technically entitled to one each.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
Miloh - was just thinking the same thing. Citi have devalued that card so much over the years that this has pushed me over the edge and I'll now be moving on to another rewards program. EK was once brilliant, but when you add this travesty to their horrendous extra charges on award flights it's just not worth the trouble any more.
08 Nov 2014
Total posts 19
likely to impact the free stopover hotel night too?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Oct 2013
Total posts 14
Stopover hotel?
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
16 Jun 2016
Total posts 16
Unsure if you're referring to a one off offer or the hotel offered due to a required longer transit time in Dubai (known as "STPC"). Either way, I wouldn't think they are impacted.
09 Jan 2019
Total posts 1
This is another debacle. Ever since QF "allied" with EK, I think EK has just grounded itself. I have reward flights booked in July and already lament the plane downgrade from SIN. If this chauffeur service is not available, I will definitely be cancelling my Citibank Emirates credit card.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
07 Sep 2012
Total posts 146
Miloh - was just thinking the same thing. Citi have devalued that card so much over the years that this has pushed me over the edge and I'll now be moving on to another rewards program. EK was once brilliant, but when you add this travesty to their horrendous extra charges on award flights it's just not worth the trouble any more.
12 Apr 2017
Total posts 24
Agree fully this on top of the plane Downgrade from A380 to 777/300 are they devaluing the service particularly to Melbourne
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jan 2019
Total posts 1
I booked a reward ticket using QFF points for me & my family. It currently is showing that i have all the chauffer services (post 1March) i'll go and book it now before it goes away :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 28
Well I have booked a SIN-DXB-MXP F Class award ticket two days ago for 2nd March and so far the system has just let me request the service on both ends...however from my CHC-SYD trip there was no option available, but I guess they never offered that on trans tasman flights
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
16 Jun 2016
Total posts 16
03 Jul 2017
Total posts 7
i think they have changed this again. the chauffeur drive terms and conditions make it pretty clear that awards bookings from qantas still qualify...
Altitude
26 Apr 2015
Total posts 4
Apart from cost, one of the issues here in Oz has been the inconsistent service which affects Emirates reputation. In many cases an Emirates job would be offloaded between 1-3 booking agents, each taking a commission. Some Drivers were not paid enough for the time required to carry out a job, poor drivers sourced, hence service delivery suffers. There is simply not the Chauffuered services in Sydney to cover the demand 2-3 flights generates. So they axe the problem.
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
20 Jan 2018
Total posts 37
Pay the price or roll the dice
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
20 Jan 2018
Total posts 37
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
20 Jan 2018
Total posts 37
The next step by Emirates will be disallowing chauffeur drive to people who have only purchased an Emirates "business SAVER" ticket. I think they will resist this as long as they can but it will eventually come. I completely understand why they now question giving expensive services to those who don't pay them a reasonable amount to get the services they provide. It's pay up and shut up. If you think Emirates cares about losing the business of people who use them up and don't provide sufficient revenue, you're wrong. They couldn't give a toss about you. Don't bother threatening them because YOUR maths doesn't stack up.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Hi David,
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
Yes, the best way to 100% confirm this would be to speak with Emirates.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2012
Total posts 178
Cool thanks David.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
Will miss this as a comfortable and convenient way to visit the other emirates in the UAE from Dubai.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Apr 2013
Total posts 146
I am disillusioned! The airlines are all in a cost cutting mode, all it is doing is pushing loyal frequent flyers onto other airlines. Points will eventually have little value imho. I have seen deterioration of frequent flyer programs over the years, from the days when you even got status credits on classic award bookings, and I find it really difficult to obtain award J or F flights these days. It's difficult to even successfully gain an upgrade on the London routes, I am WP with Qantas and I am considering my alternative options. Loyalty is dead.
I have been booking J class flights SYD-LHR on another carrier on a Dreamliner for $4600 return, my first trip was great and another is booked already. I don't get limo service but the cost saving can easily pay for it!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
02 Jan 2016
Total posts 4
When did Emirates previously announce this? T have Emirates flights booked with both Skywards & QA points & yesterday was the first time I was notified by either of them. I presume if you change the date or time of tickets booked pre March after March 1st you loose your ride?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Jul 2014
Total posts 100
Etihad - Etihad Guest
18 Jun 2019
Total posts 1
I booked my flights and complimentary car service some time back before the changes re the axing. I understand they will still honour the car, but I have just got an email regarding a slight flight time change in November. Flight number is still the same, just 25 minutes earlier. I think I must change car pick up due to the flight amendment but am worried this will make pick up from my hotel to a Heathrow and the following pick up in Dubai to my hotel there null and void. I think the cut off for changes was 1st March. In my bookings I can only see a cancel button. Should I call qantas? Not sure what to do.
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